A Study of Business in the Sasanian Period

Abstract
During the Sasanian Empire (224-651AD) -which was established based on politic
and religious centralism- not only they achieved success in developing their
territory and suppressing the foreign enemies, but also there were significant
changes in the flourish of economy, commerce, international and domestic
business in this period. The Sasanians who inherited business from the Parthians
attempted to develop business by making some changes. The international business
scope of the Sasanians has reached Africa, too. In this period, the economic
development was greatly indebted to the increase of the business in the East and
West which was done through trade routes of Persian Gulf and Silk Road. As two
great sovereignties of the area, the Roman and Iranian Empire competed against
each other to dominate the area’s market and the profit gained from the business
which was one of the causes of war between these two governments. During the
Sasanian period, the presence of the government in economic activities was
indirect, and they received significant profit from taxation, revenue, and tariff. This
survey introduced trade routes, commercial products and trade rules in the
Sasanian period considering domestic and international business. The survey is
based on library research. The studies show that the economic development
increased in this period so that the government could gain remarkable profit. In the
late Sasanian period, the increase in the tax rate caused some problems for the
merchants and the economic development stagnated. However, the business
development in the Islamic era was indebted greatly to the Sasanians’ experiences.

Keywords: business, commerce, economy, Sasanian, Iran, Rome